Structural i-beam.



RATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

H. F. VOSHARDT.

STRUCTURAL I-BEAM.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.7.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

13208725 07. W f 1767 aiz Jhzwiz.

PATENTED MAY 21, 1907.

H. F. VOSHARDT.

STRUCTURAL I-BEAM.

APIPLIOATION FILED DBO. 7.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- 172067221 07". I Jf zzzmf ariz UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

HERMAN F. \"OSIIARDT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOIRVING \Y. KELLEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STRUCTURAL II-BEAM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

Application filed December 7, 1906. Serial No. 346,711.

1".) (11/ "'71 0111- it IIIH-II/ concern:

Be it known that I, IIERMAN F. VQSHARIYI, a citizen of thel nitcdStates, residing at Chicago. in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois. have invented new and useful Improvements in StructuralI-Beams, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings,forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a metal I-beam forstructural purposes which is of such character that it may be formed ofsheet metal by known methods of sheetmetal working, but which isnot'limited to the use of metal of such gage as to be commonly termedsheet metal, but may be applied'to metal plates of such thickness as torequire the metal to be worked hot, and by such means as are suitablefor such working.

It consists in the features and elements of construction indicated inthe descri tion and claims and shown in the drawings or effectingsuitable rigidity and resistance to compressiou, particularly in the weband consequently in the head and foot elements and at the angles ofjunction of such elements with the web.

In the drawings z-Figures 1, 2 3 and 4 are perspective views of portionsof I-beams embodying my invention in different forms, in all of whichthe I-beam has its web and head and foot elements all formed integrallFig. 5 is a similar view of a modification m which the I-beam is formedof two members, each of which comprises a portion of the web and aportion of each head and foot element, the web being double. Fi s. 6, 7,8 and 9 are similar views in which the ead and foot elements are formedof parts separate from the web elements, said several views havingdctail differences from each other, each representing a differentmodification in respect to details. Fig. 10 is a similar view showingthe two end portions of a beam of the form shown in Fig. 6 reinforced byextra plates applied to the web at the end portion to withstand thecompression at the lodged portion of the beam. Fig. 1 1 is a detailsection at the line 11-11 on Fig. 8.

In all the forms of I-beams constitutin this invention as shown, the webor verticaj element is transversely,that is, vertically, corrugated inorder to stiffen it in vertical plane. In the form shown in Figs. 1, 2 I3 and 4 the beam is made of a single piece of metal, which iscorrugated, as described, at the middle portion of its width for thevertical web, A, the lateral marginal portion being folded differentlyin different forms represented by the different viewsto form the headand foot elements, and C.

In the form represented in Fi 1, the marginal portion at each side isfol ed back and forth upon itself in successively wider and wider folds,2, 2 2", 2, 2 and 2 so that when the poles are compressed into contactsuccessively with each other, as represented in said Fig. 1, there isformed a substantially solid flange tapering in thickness from the planeof the web, A, outward to the ed" e. The corrugations, 1, in the web, A,in t 's form die away in the first and shortest fold, 2, and to theextent, therefore, of their amplitude, they brace the junction of theweb, A, on the head and flange elements, B and ,C. In the case of theheadelement, B, the last fold at each side is made of extra width andthe two plies of the metal forming each of these two folds are foldedtogether to form flanges, B B, projecting upwardly from the head elementrendering. it upwardl channeled,'and a wood filler, 3, is lodge in thischannel filling its width so that the flanges, B ma be bound against thetwo lateral edges 0 the filler, as by bolts or nails, 4. The pur ose ofthe filler is not only to add to the rigi ity of the head element, butespecially to afford means for nailing floors to I-beams of thisconstruction.

'In the form shown in Fig. 2, the middle portion of the width iscorrugated, as in the preceding form, to constitute the web, A, of thebeam, and the lateral marginal portions are folded in triangular form,as represented, so as to produce by a different means from that shown inthe preceding figure a similar result, in that the head and footelements, B and C, of the beam taper from the web, A, to the full widthof said head and foot elements. In this form, the corrugations, 1, ofthe web extend past the angle, 6, of divergence of the triangular headand foot elements from the vertical web portion and die away only at theangles, 5*, 5*, between the diverging sides, 5, 5, with the horizontallower sides, 7, respectively. This construction involves corrugating themarginal portions, 8, 8, of the sheet which form the finishing sides ofthe triangular head and foot elements, and are lapped on to the verticalcorrugated web portion and secured thereto by bolts or rivets, 9 Aslight modification of this form consists in extending the corrugatedpor' tions, 8, as shown in Fig. 3, so that they cover the entirecorrugated web, A, and are lapped upon each other and are securedtogether and to the web by the bolts or rivets, 9". Or, in lieu of thuslapping them and as another means of obtaining the double-ply corrugatedweb, the edges of the sheet may be lapped at the horizontal bottom side,7, of the triangular foot element, 0, as seen in Fig. 4. In this form,the stri of sheet metal is corrugated at two parallel portions, 8*, ofits area which are not marginalbut are substantially similarly situatedrespect to the two lateral edges, an uncorrugated area being leftbetween these two zones sufficient to form the head element, B, and thetwo mar- 'inal portions, 8", being left uncorrugated to form the lappingportions of the foot element and to extend around the angles of saidtriangular foot element to the sloping sides in which the corrugationsdisap ear. I-beams of this form, when designed or construction in whichfloors are to be secured thereto, may have the head element formed withthe flanges, B B of Fig. 1. Both head and foot elements, however, may beformed alike and may be of either of the forms shown at I the head andfoot respectively in Fig. 2.

A modification which results in substan tially the same form as thatshown in Fig. 3, with the head and foot elements both provided with achannel seat for a filler, 3, is

shown in Fig. 5, in which, however, the metal consists of two parts, 9,9, each of which has the vertical corrugated web, A, and one-half ofeach of the head and foot elements, B and C, the two parts being securedtogether face to face to constitute the entire beam ready for thefillers. In this construction, however, the channels for the fillers arenot fully bottomed by metal extending across them, as in the form shownin Fig. 3, but shoulders, 9, are formed between the ends of thecorrugations andthe flanges, B for seating the fillers which are securedby nails or bolts to said flanges and thereby bind together the twometal elements constituting the I-beam. In this form, and if preferred,in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the two elements are assembled withtheir respective corrugations opposed to each other, so that saidelements are in contact and may be riveted together between thecorrugations.

In the form shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the vertical web which iscorrugated is not formed in one piece with the head and foot. The latterelements may be made in various ways in different situations, or as amatter of preference or economy. In Figs. 6 and 7 they are shown intriangular form similar to Figs. 2 and 3. The foot member, C, is foldedin triangular form from a metal strip of which the middle portion, 10,of the width constitutes the bottom face of the foot element of theI-beam, two lateral portions constituting the sloping sides, 10, of saidtriangular foot, marginal strips, 10", at the two edges being bent so asto project in a plane at right angles to the said horizontal face. Thevertical web element of the beam in this form has the uncorrugatedmarginal portion which is to be united with the foot clement formed forthat purpose by bending at right an les at a distance from the edgeequal to haf the width of the horizontal face of the base element, sothat a foot, 11, is formed to lodge upon the inner side of said face andextend to one of the lateral angles, as seen in Fig. 6. The headelement, B, of this form of beam is made of a strip of metal which isfolded upon itself at parallel lines, 12, 12, at equal distances fromtwo lateral edges, the two plies of metal formed by the fold being thenboth folded in the same direction at right angles to the sheet to formthe two flanges, B of the channel seat of the filler, 3, both marginalportions being then folded at the same line inwardly toward each otherto form the oblique sides, 12*, of the triangular head and being eachagain folded to form the marginal strips, 12*, between which thevertical web is embraced. This web is folded at this upper marginalportion so as to form a lip, 11, which is engaged in the fold of one ofthe flanges, 13, extending to the bottom of that fold under the channelseat from the middle point at which it is folded at right angles to theweb to form the bearing against the under side of the channelseat.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the web, A, is double; that is, formed oftwo plates of identical configuration, placed face to face, with theircorrugations opposed, and a flat plate, D, between them. Each of theelements of this double web has its margins folded at right angles andseated withinthe triangular head and foot pieces in the same manner asthe foot of the web in the form shown in Fig. 5 is seated in the footpiece.

In the form shown in Fig. 8, the vertical web, A, is corrugated nearlyto its lateral edges, marginal strips, 14, only, remaining uncorrugatedwhich are embraced between the folds of the head and foot elementsrespectively, as hereinafter described. The foot element in this form ismade of a single piece of sheet metal which is folded to a form in whichcross section is of an inverted T- shape, with the stem of the T, 15,double or bifurcated and embracing in its bifurcation the lower margin,14, of the web, A, as stated. The head element is similarly formed,except that marginal portions of the sheet are folded upward at thelateral edges of the flanges corresponding to the cross of the T to makethe side flanges, B, of the channel seat for the filler, 3, as in theother forms. The bifurcation of the portion corresponding to the sternof the T in both the head and foot elements is produced by folding themetal at longitudinal line, 16;

and apertures, 16, are formed at intervals in the length of this foldwhich receive lugs,

- curely connected by the engagement of the lugs in the apertures.

In Fig. 9, thevertical web is shown constructed of two corrugatedelements and two intermediate uncorrugated sheets, D, D, as in Fig. 7.The foot element is substantially the same form as in Fig. 8, exceptthat the bifurcation in the stem of the T is wider in order toaccommodate the greater thickness of the vertical web formed of-the twocorrugated and intermediate plain sheets, as de scribed. In this form,the head element is made by folding a sheet of metal at two parallellines equally distant from'the lateral edges respectively, said folds,20, forming the upper margins of the flanges, B of the channel seat forthe filler, 3, both plies being folded at right angles to upturn saidflanges to form the channel, and the marginal p'ortions at both edgesbeing reflexed at right angles to embrace the upper end of the threeplyweb, A. r

In any of these forms, the end portions of the beams may be reinforcedto increase their resistance to compression for so much of their lengthas is lodged upon the supports. This is most conveniently effected byapplying a strip, 19, corrugated to match the corrugations of the webextending from top to bottom of the web so as to be exposed in the lineof compression transmitted by the head and foot elements of the beam.

I. claim 1. A metal I-beam for building structures having its webcorrugated vertically and having the head element rigid with thevertical corrugated web and folded at parallel longitudinal lines toform the lateral flanges of an upwardly open channel seat adapted toreceive a filler.

2. A metal I-beam for building structures having its web corrugatedvertically and having the head element rigid with the ver-. ticalcorrugated web and folded at parallel longitudinal lines to form thelateral flanges of an upwardly open channel seat, and a wood fillerlodged in such channel seat and having said flanges bound against itslateral edges.

3; A metal I-beam for structural purposes having its web comprising twotransversely or vertically corrugated plies of sheet metal with theirrespective corrugations opposed to each other and secured together atthe intervals or depressions between such opposed corrugatlons.

4. A metal I-beam for structural purposes formed of sheet metalcorrugated transversely at aportion which forms the vertical web of theI-beam and having the portions which constitute the head and footflanges, respectively, each folded upon itself and lapped on to thecorrugated portion of the web and corrugated at such lapped portion.

5'. A metal I-beam for structural purposes formed of sheet metalcorrugated transversely at a portion which constitutes the vertical webof the I-beam, such vertical web consisting of two plies of suchcorrugated metal having theirrespective corrugations opposed to eachother and fastened together at the lines between such corrugations.

6. A metal Ibea.n for structural purposes formed of sheet metal, theportion which constitutes the vertical web of the I-beam consisting oftwo plies of one piece of sheet metal having two corrugated areas andfolded upon itself to oppose said areas to each other, corrugation tocorrugation, and secured together at the lines between suchcorrugations.

7. A metal I-beam for structuralpurposes formed of sheet metal, thevertical web portion of the I-beam consisting of two plies of metalvertically cdrrugated and applied to each other with their corrugationsrespectively opposed, and a third ply of uncorrugated metal interposedbetween the two corrugated elements, the three plies being securedtogether at the lines between the corrugations.

8. A metal I-beam for structural purposes having a vertical web formedof two plies of a single piece of sheet metal transversely corrugated attwo parallel areas and folded to oppose such two areas to each other,corrugation to corrugation, the marginal portions of the metal sheetbeing folded and lapped to form one of the flanges of the I-beam, andthe area intermediate the corrugated areas being folded to form theopposite flanges of the beam.

9. A metal K-beam for structural purposes formed of a single piece ofmetal corrugated transversely at a portion intermediate its edges andhaving the marginal uncorrugated portions folded to form the head andfoot flanges of the I-beam.

10. A metal I-beam for structural pur-' poses formed of a single pieceof sheet metal corrugated transversely at the portion which constitutesthe web of the I-beam; a mar ginal portion which forms the head elementof the beam being folded to form the side flanges of the upwardly openchannel, and a wood tiller lodged in such channel and having the flangesbound against its side edges.

11. A metal I-beam for structural pur poses formed of a single piece ofsheet metal corrugated transversely at an intermediate portion of itswidth to form the web of the I- bcam and having the portion which formsthe head and foot flanges folded upon itself and lapped on to thecorrugated portion of the web and corrugated at such lapped area.

12. A metal I-beam for structural purposes consisting of a single pieceof sheet metal corrugated at the middle portion of the width to form theweb of the I-beam, and having eachlateral marginal portion folded toform a triangular element, one side of the triangle being at rightangles to the web, and the lateral edge of the sheet being lapped on andsecured to theweb.

13. A metal I-beam for structural purposes consisting of a single pieceof sheet metal corrugated at the middle portion of the width to formtheWeb of the K-beam, and having each lateral irarginal portion folded toforma triangular element, one side of the triangle being at right anglesto the web, and the lateral edge of the sheet being lapped on andsecured to the corrugated web and corrugated at such lapped area.

'14. A metal I-beam for structural purposes consisting of a single pieceof sheet metal corrugated at the middle portion of the width to form theweb of the I-bea1n, and having each lateral marginal portion folded, toform a triangular element, one side of the triangle being at rightangles to the web, and the lateral edge of the sheet being lapped on andsecured to the corrugated Web, and corrugations being extended into thetwo side elements of the triangles which divergefrom the web anddisappearing in said elements.

15. A metal I-beam for structural purposes consisting of a single pieceof sheet metal corrugated transversely at the middle portion of itswidth, and having each marginal portion, outside the corrugated areaflexed and refiexed upon itself in successively Wider folds to form thehead and foot flange elements of the I-beam.

16. A sheet metal I-bcam for structural purposes consisting of a singlepiece of sheet metal corrugated transversely at a middle portion of itswidth, and having each marginal portion outside said corrugated areaflexed and refieXed upon itself in successively wider and Wider folds toform the head and foot flange elements of the I-beam, the metal at onelateral margin having the two plies of the metal formed by the last twofoldsf-one at each side,'folded into parallel positions to form achannel upon the top of the head flange of the I-beam.

17. A metal I-beam for structural purposes comprising a transversely orvertically corrugated web and head and foot elements formed of sheetmetal folded to embrace the upper and lower marginal portions of the webbeyond the corrugated area of the latter.

18. A metal I-beam for structural purposes consisting of a web elementwhich is vertically or transversely corrugated at the middle portion ofits width, and which has its oppositc lateral marginal portions beyondthe corrugated area folded at right angles to oll'- set them in oppositedirections, and head and foot elcnunts folded in triangular form, themarginal portions of such elements meeting at one angle/of the trianglebeing extended at right angles to the opposite side and embracing theweb, the right-angularly-ofl'set marginal portions of the web beingseated on said opposite side of said triangular head and foot elements.

19. A metal I-beam for structural purposes having its Web consisting oftwo layers of sheet metal vertically corrugated, with their respectivecorrugations directly opposed to each other and secured together at thedepressions 0r intervals between such opposed corrugations, saidelements being divergent from each other at the upper and lower marginsof the Web, and being folded beyond the corrugated area to form channelseats, and wood fillers lodged in such channel seats and having themarginal flanges thereof bound securely against their lateral edges.

20. A metal I-beam'for structural purposes having its web consisting ofsheet metal corrugated transversely, and head and foot elementsconsisting of sheet metal folded upon. itself for reinforcement to theend portions of the beam, having corrugated reinforcing plates appliedand secured to the corrugated Web With the corrugations of said Web andre infor'cing plates nested in each other.

21. A metal I-beam for structural purposes having its vertical webtransversely or vertically corrugated and its flanges, or either ofthem, formed of the sheet metal folded to embrace the margin beyond thecorrugated area of the web, and having at the fold apertures atintervals in the length, the web elements having lugs projecting fromits edge which is embraced in such fold, in position to extend throughthe apertures, such lugs being folded down outside said fold whichembraces the Web, the flange element being reflexed upon itself outsidesaid folded lugs to embrace the latter and further folded to formoutwardly extending flange elements of the I-beam. i

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 'my hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 28th day of November, A. D. 1906.

HERMAN F. VOSHARDT. lVitnesses:

' JOHN A. MILIG GEO. MYNOHENBERG.

